I have a 16GB 2.2GHz 2015 15" MBP. I bought it really cheap (£249) & upgraded the 256GB SSD to a genuine Apple 2TB drive. I only bought it because battery life was getting really poor on my 2.6GHz 2014 15" MBP. It's a bit knocked about so not 100% cosmetically but it all works well with Big Sur so I have the Monterey upgrade to look forward to. It won't run Ventura so I may contemplate a new M2 (M3? M4?) laptop in a few years time but it's still doing a great job for me.
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So long and thanks, MBP mid-2015 15in
- Thread starter woolypants
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I retired my 2013 15" MBP (older brother to yours) in 2020 but it still lives on weekends so that I don't have to shlep a laptop back and forth to my weekend retreat. It was a BTO at the time I bought it and was a desktop replacement for me for about 5 years. Replaced the battery and the screen coating got bad but it still does a great job. I am a Touch Bar fan so currently I am running both a 16" I9 plus a 13" M1 MBP both of which I plan to keep as long as possible.
I recently retired my 13" mid-2015 MBP, and like you I was sad to see it go. What a great friggin' laptop. Gave it to my nanny's high school age daughter so at least it was put to good use.
That said, the M1 MBA it was replaced with is fantastic.
That said, the M1 MBA it was replaced with is fantastic.
Great ode to your MacBook Pro, woolypants. I just picked up one of those machines you praise, the 2015 MBP 15" Retina, for $250. My other MacBook is a Mid 2010 13-inch, so it was time for me to upgrade to something beyond High Sierra. Hang on to your 2015 or pass it on to someone like me. All the best,It's a sad day. Later today a 16in 2021 MacBook Pro will be delivered.
Why so sad, then?
It'll be time to retire my mid-2015 15in MacBook Pro (2.8GHz i7, 16GB RAM).
The best laptop I've ever owned. Hands down. It was the last good Intel MacBook Pro. After this, everything went wrong. Butterfly keyboard. Touch Bar. Hot-running Intel chips. Hashtag donglelife.
I've had it since the model was released, in April 2015. More than seven years. I bought it with future-proofing in mind. And I was right. For example, it can play 4K videos just fine, if I ever need it to (I don't).
Alas, it won't get the Ventura macOS release later this year. And macOS is getting a little sluggish, despite a fresh reinstall recently. I strongly suspect Apple simply isn't optimising for older machines any longer. For example, in the old days I could run an external monitor without the fans spinning up (in fact, at one point I had two external displays running plus mirroring to an iPad via Duet – and no fan spin at all).
Now, the fans get loud if I do just about anything with an external monitor attached other than web browsing. I'm pretty sure this is Apple's poor graphics driver implementation. It's been this way for a year or two.
The new 16in 2021 MBP is my next future proofed laptop. 32GB of RAM, only because I couldn't bear to get 16GB again. M1 Max. Weirdly, on a pragmatic level, the new MBP is extremely similar to the old one – it's even the same size — but simply with newer and better tech. Apple drifted away from the ideal of the ideal laptop, and have come back around just in time for my upgrade.
This new MBP should last me another seven years. Maybe more. I hope so because it's f***ing expensive.
It's weird to imagine what computing will be like in 2029. If it still exists, macOS will be packed full of machine learning for just about everything.
I read a deep technical dive into the M1 Max that said that the 400GB/s bandwidth could only be utilised if the CPU, GPU and media engines were all firing at the same time. Gee, I wonder what could ever require that? Maybe AR? Where the CPU controls the actual computing functions, the GPU draws a complex UI, and the media engines process the video of what you see...? It's like Apple's preparing for a future nobody has yet thought about. Not even the tech YouTuber bores who are always so sure they know what's going on.
So, thanks mid-2015 MBP 15in.
If you were happy with the 15" size, I'd get a 14" MBP. I ended up replacing my 13" with the Air because the 14" was juuuuust a bit too big for my taste. But if you're coming from 15", I think the 14" would be a great choice.
I had a 2011 MBA and 2014 MBP 13", I thought those had small screens. Interesting that you think the MBP 14" screen is too big. It seems like the close to ideal size for portable laptops. 13.6" is not too far off but Apple upped the price too much that it's making more and more sense to buy the MBP 14". $1579+CA taxes and a $150 GC Specced MBA M2 vs. ~$1820 MBP 14". I mean...How many people would choose the Air over the MBP M1 if that was the price difference? It's my dilemma (First world problems). Been fortunate that I can afford both I don't need to. I don't create content, or use apps/programs that CPU/GPU intensive. I can bring my charger for on-the-go and can buy a battery bank..but the Air's battery and screen is soo enticing..
But that's another topic for another day...I've been debating it over and over when I have time.
I have a MBP 14" in front of me next to my MBP 15". The MBP 14" screen looks nice. I just fear it will lack in the battery life compartment (see my other thread comparing m1/m2 Macbooks to Intel Macbooks). For a 7 year old laptop, Battery life my biggest gripe for my MBP 15". It's sad. I can't even get 2 hours out of this Macbook...but it has 586 cycles.
Second issue with MBP 15" for me would be it's bulk/size. It's not even worth carrying it and a big charger around. Rather buy a M1/M2 Macbook at this point...
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It wasn't the screen itself - just the overall size (feel?) and weight of the machine. I travel all the time and am really sensitive to weight so I ended up going with the MBA, but I completely agree with your price/performance comparison and generally feel like a low spec 14" is a better buy than a well spec'd MBA.
I hear ya. MBP 14" is considered a lightweight, portable laptop. It's unfairly compared to the ultra portable laptops like the MBA and XPS.
Hmm, I still prefer the MBA M2 in terms of form factor, weight and battery life. The difference between MBA M2, 512/16 10 core GPU and the MBP 14" is only $250. And that's if you're factoring the $150 deduction for the Apple GC.
I just bought one from craigslist for $200 and I love it. 2.2 Ghz CPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD. Model Identifier: MacBookPro11,4.
Now that last bit is a problem. It turns out what I really needed was a MacBookPro11,2 Mid-2014 model for a project I'm working on but man, for $200 Imma just keep this one and maybe buy an 11,2 at some point. In fact, there's one on craigslist right now for $200 but I may scrap my my project idea because I like the 11,4 so much.
Now that last bit is a problem. It turns out what I really needed was a MacBookPro11,2 Mid-2014 model for a project I'm working on but man, for $200 Imma just keep this one and maybe buy an 11,2 at some point. In fact, there's one on craigslist right now for $200 but I may scrap my my project idea because I like the 11,4 so much.
I have a 2014 13” MBP and I’m planning on taking this thing until the wheels fall off and then some hahaha. This thing got me through my entire undergraduate career (5-6 years bc I changed courses)
It’s running Monterey actually a whole lot better than it natively did with Big Sur. Given that there’s been some good developments in the Ventura mods, I’m confident that this thing might be able to run MacOS 13. If it doesn’t then I guess there’s always Mint or Manjaro to fall back on
It’s running Monterey actually a whole lot better than it natively did with Big Sur. Given that there’s been some good developments in the Ventura mods, I’m confident that this thing might be able to run MacOS 13. If it doesn’t then I guess there’s always Mint or Manjaro to fall back on
In a weird way I'm a bit jealous of you all, because I've never found that magical MacBook that could be my warhorse for years before I upgrade it. I bought the M1 Air when it came out because I wanted to see if Apple Silicon was as good as the hype. I could instantly tell that it was, but I've never liked the wedge design and I planned on trading it in for an M2 Air with that new design. Instead I opted for the 14" Pro, and this feels like a MacBook I can stick with for the next 4-5 years. 🤞 The last one I owned before the M1 Air was one of the fatter Intel models back in 2012 or 2013. It was too big, heavy, loud, and slow for me to use for podcasting, so I got rid of it.
I've been so frustrated with MacBooks for so long, but I am NOT disappointed by Apple Silicon.
I've been so frustrated with MacBooks for so long, but I am NOT disappointed by Apple Silicon.
I'm using my 2015 right now. I have some videos playing on my 2021 on a piano bench next to my recliner and am doing some social media on the 2015. It's a bit chilly this morning and I appreciate the heat from the old laptop. I will probably use it more during the winter for the heat output. The 2015 is actually still fine for a lot of things - including as a second monitor.
I just bought a 2015 a couple months ago, and oh boy is it nice. It’s a toss-up between the underpowered & overfeatured 2009 17” mbp I leave at work and the more powerful but svelte 15” at home for my favorite Mac ever. Every time I crack one of them open I’m reminded of why everyone loved Apple and they became massively popular. Runs Mac from High Sierra & Mojave if you need 32bit, to Monterey if you need CSAM spyware, runs Windows 7 & 10 on Bootycamp. But a 2015 mbp with Mojave really is the bees knees as far as Mac laptops go. 32bit & QT7 for non-destructive video edits, works with Parallels 12 (the last really fully stable release) which Wacoms drivers don’t conflict with, so you can use a Wacom intros 3 (the last Wacom to have a reliable mouse) for the best user control interface ever made, has usb-a ports on both sides(!), Thunderbolt ports, hdmi, a hi-res display and a trackpad with enough space around it you can actually reach across without your wrist or side of your thumb interfering. It takes less than a minute to pop the bottom cover off and access the easily removable nvme ssd, which I replaced with a 4tb WD Black. So now it’s also useful as a media library and since it has enough graphics power to drive the LG Ultrrawide 38” curved displays, it now does double duty as a deluxe, full featured AppleTV. All for what did I pay, about $400? lol
My 2019 8-core i9’s each have about 4x the graphics & horsepower on paper, but due to most apps still being written for single core, the 2015’s zippy 2.8GHz performance isn’t really much if a step down over the i9s 2.4Ghz. And considering what a hassle the 2016’s+ are, with their long list of limitations and incompatibilities & lack of features, & the Mx stuff isn’t any more useful to me than an iPad, so the 2015 is the pinnacle of what the mbp has been thus far.
My 2019 8-core i9’s each have about 4x the graphics & horsepower on paper, but due to most apps still being written for single core, the 2015’s zippy 2.8GHz performance isn’t really much if a step down over the i9s 2.4Ghz. And considering what a hassle the 2016’s+ are, with their long list of limitations and incompatibilities & lack of features, & the Mx stuff isn’t any more useful to me than an iPad, so the 2015 is the pinnacle of what the mbp has been thus far.
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LOL yes me too. I even used to run the Prime benchmark in torture mode to get the keyboard nice and toasty on cold mornings!
I'm still using my mid-2014 pro. I finally replaced the battery earlier this year and it's rock solid. That's still a good run for the 2015! I'm hoping to wait until next fall or so and see what the state of the lineup is. Ideally, I'd love to get 10 years out of my current pro.
I upgraded from a Early 2015 13 inch Broadwell MBP to the 2020 M1 MBP. It’s still here, even booted up yesterday to look for a file. It’s a solid era of Macs. Mine has gotten really slow with Catalina. Big Sur and Monterrey are likely to make it worse.
My Wife still uses my old late 2013 13" rMBP 256/8. That Retina MacBook era was so well balanced between design and function. Good thermals, great battery life, an excellent screen and a fast PCIe SSD. There are no good reasons to put them out to pasture just yet. I bet we see these machines active in the wild for even longer than the 2012 13" MacBook pros which have just begun to disappear.
I went from that MBP to a 2018 15" which I promptly traded in for a 14" M1Pro at launch with zero regrets. The 2016 - 2018 MBP have very few redeeming qualities other than the rounded edges that made it feel thinner and smaller than it actually was. Even to this day the 14" feels bigger/heaver to me even though I know better. But all the design in the world couldn't fix the keyboard, the overheating and the non-existent battery life the minute you tried to do something useful. Editing, render and export of 2k res video in Final Cut was 100% to 10% battery in less than an hour on that thing. The 14" M1 Pro is about 3-4 hours under the same conditions.
I went from that MBP to a 2018 15" which I promptly traded in for a 14" M1Pro at launch with zero regrets. The 2016 - 2018 MBP have very few redeeming qualities other than the rounded edges that made it feel thinner and smaller than it actually was. Even to this day the 14" feels bigger/heaver to me even though I know better. But all the design in the world couldn't fix the keyboard, the overheating and the non-existent battery life the minute you tried to do something useful. Editing, render and export of 2k res video in Final Cut was 100% to 10% battery in less than an hour on that thing. The 14" M1 Pro is about 3-4 hours under the same conditions.
I’m typing this on my MBP mid-2015 15” 2.8GHz 1TB I bought ‘new’ in 2017 (yes, APPLE was still making them, and I believe one of the last), and I have a new MBP 14” space gray base model next to me too. It’s been a long unified body road since 2010-11 with 2 MBP 17” and then 2015 15”, they still have a beautiful design’, iconic’, and I agree with many that it may be the best laptop ever made (going to miss that glowing APPLE).
I’ve had the MBP 14” out getting used to everything and started organizing this past week. I should be more enthusiastic about having a new more powerful computer with a gorgeous display, but for some reason, I’m having a hard time moving on. I did skip the butterfly/touch-bar/only USB-C ports 2016-2020, and with the M1Pro 14/16 design/features/hardware, everything seemed to come together again. I was thinking 16”, and then thought about portability or just a space-saver on the desk with my old APPLE Thunderbolt Display (like the MBP 2015 it just works and still looks great), or maybe it was an actual smallish ‘lap-top' form factor, now that’s an idea!
So, this will be an upgrade jump in every way except the slightly smaller screen and the built-in storage going down from 1TB to 512Gb. I would have done a custom order with 1TB, but I got this ‘open-box’ base model at a good price and thought I could do the external enclosure and save some money. The TB SSD enclosure I got is impressively fast (2700mbs), but not very convenient if you move the computer. Not sure how this is going to work out. Photos and Music library on the external drive, and trying to keep the internal storage to a minimum seems like a lot of extra thinking work now that it’s reality.
One thing I can say from my first impressions; the MBP 14” is almost tiny in comparison. The contrast, blacks, and promotion are really game changers, and one of the main reasons I didn’t go for the MBA M2, and the sound quality is pretty amazing too. The 2015 keyboard was the best, and this isn’t far behind, slightly different feel, but then I just got a mechanical keyboard (IQUNIX F97) so getting used to that too.
The unibody design has been tested over time, I could add a new battery and storage myself, they are dependable (as long as you don’t have one with the graphic processor). That’s one thing only time will tell about this new MBP 14”, and wondering if it will be trouble-free in the [many] years to come. They’ve been out for a while now, and from the general impressions, it all sounds good.
I’ve had the MBP 14” out getting used to everything and started organizing this past week. I should be more enthusiastic about having a new more powerful computer with a gorgeous display, but for some reason, I’m having a hard time moving on. I did skip the butterfly/touch-bar/only USB-C ports 2016-2020, and with the M1Pro 14/16 design/features/hardware, everything seemed to come together again. I was thinking 16”, and then thought about portability or just a space-saver on the desk with my old APPLE Thunderbolt Display (like the MBP 2015 it just works and still looks great), or maybe it was an actual smallish ‘lap-top' form factor, now that’s an idea!
So, this will be an upgrade jump in every way except the slightly smaller screen and the built-in storage going down from 1TB to 512Gb. I would have done a custom order with 1TB, but I got this ‘open-box’ base model at a good price and thought I could do the external enclosure and save some money. The TB SSD enclosure I got is impressively fast (2700mbs), but not very convenient if you move the computer. Not sure how this is going to work out. Photos and Music library on the external drive, and trying to keep the internal storage to a minimum seems like a lot of extra thinking work now that it’s reality.
One thing I can say from my first impressions; the MBP 14” is almost tiny in comparison. The contrast, blacks, and promotion are really game changers, and one of the main reasons I didn’t go for the MBA M2, and the sound quality is pretty amazing too. The 2015 keyboard was the best, and this isn’t far behind, slightly different feel, but then I just got a mechanical keyboard (IQUNIX F97) so getting used to that too.
The unibody design has been tested over time, I could add a new battery and storage myself, they are dependable (as long as you don’t have one with the graphic processor). That’s one thing only time will tell about this new MBP 14”, and wondering if it will be trouble-free in the [many] years to come. They’ve been out for a while now, and from the general impressions, it all sounds good.
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I have 512 on the 2015 and 1024 on the 2021 16 but I have an M1 Mac mini with a 2 TB Crucial SSD and use it as a NAS for larger files. It is nice to just use storage over the home LAN as I don't have to worry about the amount of space on whichever laptop I happen to be using at the time.
My wife still uses a MacBook Pro 13 2015, even if the base model 13" was not so much Pro...
She thinks its great for the things she do on it, for example streaming media, web browsing and word and excel.
The battery is almost 900 cycles now since 2015 so it's still going strong. Battery last 5-6 hours of light use.
I have asked her if she want a new one, but she said its still fine and she will keep it for a couple more years.
That's dedication
She thinks its great for the things she do on it, for example streaming media, web browsing and word and excel.
The battery is almost 900 cycles now since 2015 so it's still going strong. Battery last 5-6 hours of light use.
I have asked her if she want a new one, but she said its still fine and she will keep it for a couple more years.
That's dedication